94 Points | International Wine Cellar , November/December 2009

($60; 15.3% alcohol, the only one of these 2006 syrahs that's over 15%; includes 4% co-fermented viognier; aged 18 months in all-new oak) Deep ruby-red. Head-spinning aromas of blackberry, boysenberry, raspberry, black olive tapenade, Szechuan peppercorn, gunflint and beef jerky. Deep, sappy and saline, with superb energy to the flavors of dark raspberry, musky brown spices, dark chocolate, black olive and pepper. Finishes with big, broad, dusty tannins and outstanding lift and length. Real wine-class syrah, expressive from the start but gaining in energy with extended aeration. This was better after 24 hours in the recorked bottle, with flavors of blackberry, black olive and pepper dominating. Winemaker/owner Baron points out that this is his flagship wine, with a production of 750 cases.

95 Points | Wine Spectator

98 Points | Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate